Committeeman: Hogan Won't Face "Credible" Primary Challenge In Two Years For Not Endorsing Trump

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Sunday, May 29, 2016
Robert Lang, WBAL NewsRadio 1090

Donald Trump speaking to reporters at a Maryland Republican Party dinner last year. Credit: WBAL's Robert Lang

Governor Larry Hogan Credit: AP

Governor Larry Hogan has repeatedly said he has no plans to support Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and has no plans to attend the Republican National Convention in July.

Traditionally the governor chairs the state delegation at the party's national convention.

This year that job will fall to David Bossie, who is the president and CEO of Citizens United,, and was elected earlier this month to be Maryland's Republican National Committeeman.

Bossie told Maryland's News This Week that he hopes Hogan changes his mind about supporting Trump, because Republicans should support their party's presidential nominee to defeat Hillary Clinton in November.

However, Bossie says Hogan's position on Trump does not damage Hogan's popularity with conservatives, and he doesn't think Hogan will get any significant challenge from a conservative Republican in a primary in 2018.

"Governor Hogan is his own man. He is incredibly popular among Marylander, and so I could not see anyone credibly challenging the governor," Bossie told Maryland's News This Week.

Still Bossie believes that if Trump is elected president "establishment Republicans" like House Speaker Paul Ryan could face difficulty getting Trump's support in their own re-election bid, and he thinks Hogan should realize that.

"Donald Trump operates as a candidate, as if you're not with him you're against him. People like Paul Ryan will have to watch carefully, because there will be a pivot for two years from now in the governor's re-election," Bossie added.

Bossie described Hogan as, "a solid guy who is trying to do the best he can with a completely liberal, Democratic controlled legislature."

Last year, it was Bossie who convinced Trump to speak at a Maryland Republican Party dinner, just days after he entered the presidential race.

Bossie has called the last year interesting, as Trump won primaries.

"I knew there was something interesting in Mr. Trump that appealed to the Republican Primary voter," Bossie said.

He adds that Trump appeals to voters who feel other presidential candidates did not keep their promises made to conservative voters.

Bossie noted that he supported John McCain in 2008, and Mitt Romney in 2012, even though he did not support him in the primary.

He calls the tough primary fight "cathartic" for Republicans.

The Washington Post reported Friday that Hogan would attend the annual Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield on July 20, which falls on the day convention delegates are expected to formally nominate Donald Trump.

The paper quotes lobbyist Bruce Bereano who buys a big tent at the event that attracts many state and local politicians. Bereano said the governor has told him he will attend the event. Hogan's staff would not confirm the plans to the newspaper.

The paper reports that :Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford and Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman would attend the Crisfield event.

The Post reports two other Republican officials, Congressman Andy Harris and State Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings would attend the convention as delegates.